U.S. patent application number 15/106434 was filed with the patent office on 2017-02-02 for hubcap for vehicle wheels.
The applicant listed for this patent is ZANINI AUTO GRUP, S.A.. Invention is credited to Francisco BURGADA VILAPLANA, Miguel CASANOVAS CEJUELA, Pere DURAN BOFILL.
Application Number | 20170028776 15/106434 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53402147 |
Filed Date | 2017-02-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170028776 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CASANOVAS CEJUELA; Miguel ;
et al. |
February 2, 2017 |
HUBCAP FOR VEHICLE WHEELS
Abstract
The hubcap for vehicle wheels comprises a disk (1), a ring (2)
to secure the hubcap to said rim of the vehicle wheel and a
plurality of securing modules (3) for securing the ring (2) to said
disk (1), each of said securing modules (3) comprising at least a
first securing element (5) which is coupled to said ring (2);
characterized in that each securing module (3) also comprises a
positioner (8), such that the ring (2) is retained between the
first securing element (5) and the positioner (8) in its position
of use, said first securing element (5) and said positioner (8)
defining a lodging for said ring (2) before placing it in its
position of use. It enables simpler placement of the ring, which
can be carried out by applying pressure solely in the axial
direction.
Inventors: |
CASANOVAS CEJUELA; Miguel;
(Parets del Valles (Barcelona), ES) ; DURAN BOFILL;
Pere; (Parets del Valles (Barcelona), ES) ; BURGADA
VILAPLANA; Francisco; (Parets del Valles (Barcelona),
ES) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ZANINI AUTO GRUP, S.A. |
Parets del Valles (Barcelona) |
|
ES |
|
|
Family ID: |
53402147 |
Appl. No.: |
15/106434 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
December 19, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/ES2013/070902 |
371 Date: |
June 20, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60B 7/02 20130101; B60B
7/00 20130101; B60B 7/063 20130101; B60B 7/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60B 7/12 20060101
B60B007/12; B60B 7/02 20060101 B60B007/02; B60B 7/06 20060101
B60B007/06 |
Claims
1. A hubcap for vehicle wheels, comprising a disk which in its
position of use, covers the rim of a vehicle wheel, a ring to
secure the hubcap to said rim of the vehicle wheel and a plurality
of securing modules for securing the ring to said disk, each of
said securing modules comprising at least a first securing element
which is coupled to said ring; wherein each securing module also
comprises a positioner, such that the ring is retained between the
first securing element and the positioner in its position of use,
said first securing element and said positioner defining a lodging
for said ring before placing it in its position of use.
2. The hubcap for vehicle wheels according to claim 1, further
comprising second securing elements.
3. The hubcap for vehicle wheels according to claim 1, further
comprising support elements on which said ring is supported in its
position of use.
4. The hubcap for vehicle wheels according to claim 1, wherein said
first securing elements are two flexible elements and are connected
to each other on the lower and/or the upper part.
5. The hubcap for vehicle wheels according to claim 4, wherein said
first securing elements are connected to each other by means of a
lower connection plane on which said ring is supported in its
position of use.
6. The hubcap for vehicle wheels according to claim 3, wherein said
support elements comprise projections for positioning the ring.
7. The hubcap for vehicle wheels according to claim 2, wherein said
second flexible securing elements are located opposite said support
elements and on the ends of each securing module.
8. The hubcap for vehicle wheels according to claim 1, wherein said
positioner is placed in a central position in each securing
module.
9. The hubcap for vehicle wheels according claim 1, wherein each of
said first flexible securing elements are connected to a rigid
support element by means of a connecting arm.
10. The hubcap for vehicle wheels according to claim 2, wherein
each of the second securing elements comprises a retaining
projection for retaining the ring in its position of use, and for
supporting the ring before placing it in its position of use.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a hubcap for vehicle wheels
comprising a ring, which is coupled thereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Hubcaps are the elements externally attached on the rims of
the wheels, and their purpose may be stylish or they may try to
improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle.
[0003] A solution used for coupling the hubcap to the wheel rims is
to provide the hubcap with a flexible ring on the inside, which
fits on through pressure into securing modules of the hubcaps.
[0004] The main drawback of this coupling system with a ring is
that placing the ring into said securing modules has to be carried
out manually, coupling the ring into each securing module
individually, which is cumbersome and expensive.
[0005] This type of hubcap using a ring is described in document WO
2012/010778 A1. The hubcap described therein comprises securing
means for said ring formed by a pair of fixed side retainers and a
flexible central flap. In this hubcap, the coupling of the ring has
to be carried out manually. If it is carried out mechanically, it
has to be done by a complex machine that can undertake several
movements to deform each of the legs independently.
[0006] Therefore the objective of the hubcap of the present
invention is enabling quick and easy coupling of the ring to the
hubcap disk, making it possible to couple it at the same time in
all of the securing modules and, if desired, having it carried out
by a simple machine that only exerts pressure in the axial
direction, thus minimizing the time required for coupling the
ring.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The hubcap for vehicle wheels of the invention resolves the
aforementioned drawbacks and has other advantages that are
described below.
[0008] The hubcap for vehicle wheels according to the present
invention comprises a disk, which in its position of use, covers
the rim of a vehicle wheel, a ring to secure the hubcap to said rim
of the vehicle wheel and a plurality of securing modules for
securing the ring to said disk, each of said securing modules
comprising at least a first securing element which is coupled to
said ring; characterized in that each securing module also
comprises a positioner, such that the ring is retained between the
first securing element and the positioner in its position of use,
said first securing element and said positioner defining a lodging
for said ring before placing it in its position of use.
[0009] According to an embodiment, the hubcap for vehicle wheels
according to the present invention may also comprise second
securing elements.
[0010] Advantageously, the hubcap for vehicle wheels according to
the present invention may also comprise support elements on which
said ring is supported in its position of use.
[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, said first flexible
securing elements are two and they are connected to each other on
the lower and/or upper part.
[0012] For example, said first securing elements can be connected
by means of a connection to a bottom element on which said ring is
supported in its position of use.
[0013] Advantageously, said support elements are comprised of
projections for the positioning of the ring.
[0014] Preferably, said second flexible securing elements are
located opposite said support elements on the ends of each securing
module.
[0015] Advantageously, said positioner is placed in a central
position in each securing module.
[0016] Furthermore, each of said first flexible securing elements
can be connected to a rigid support element by means of a
connecting arm, and each of the second securing elements can be
comprised of a retaining projection for retaining the ring in its
position of use, and for supporting the ring before placing it in
its position of use.
[0017] The hubcap of the present invention makes placing the ring
much simpler, making it possible to carry out the task with a
simple machine which only exerts pressure in axial direction, or in
the case of manual mounting, pressure only has to be exerted in
axial direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] For the purpose of helping to make the foregoing description
more readily understandable, it is accompanied by a set of drawings
that, schematically and by way of illustration and not limitation,
represent an embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the hubcap of
the present invention, according to a first embodiment, without the
securing ring;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the hubcap of
the present invention, according to a first embodiment, with the
securing ring in its coupling position; and,
[0021] FIGS. 3 to 5 are schematic elevation views of the mounting
process of the ring on the hubcap according to the first embodiment
of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the hubcap of
the present invention, according to a second embodiment, without
the securing ring;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the hubcap of
the present invention, according to a second embodiment, with the
securing ring in its coupling position; and,
[0024] FIGS. 8 to 10 are schematic elevation views of the mounting
process of the ring on the hubcap according to the second
embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0025] First, it must be noted that for reasons of simplicity, the
figures only represent a portion of the hubcap of the present
invention, in which a securing module is shown, as described
below.
[0026] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 5, in which the first
embodiment is shown, the hubcap of the present invention comprises
a disk (1), which, when in position of use, covers the rim of the
wheel of a vehicle (not shown). A ring (2) is coupled to said disk
(1) by means of a plurality of securing modules (3), which are
arranged immediately surrounding said disk (1).
[0027] As mentioned above, only one securing module (3) is shown in
the figures for reasons of simplicity, but the number of securing
modules (3) in a disk (1) should be adequate to ensure proper
securing of the disk (1) to the rim of the wheel.
[0028] Each securing module (3) comprises a pair of support
elements (4), at least one first securing element (5) (two in the
shown embodiment) and, optionally, a pair of second securing
elements (6), the ring (2) being secured by the securing
element(s), as explained below.
[0029] The support elements (4) are rigid, in other words, they do
not flex when placing the ring (2) in its position of use (FIG. 2),
but rather their function consists in acting as a support for the
ring (2). To this end, each supporting element (4) has a projection
(9), which serves as a stop for said ring (2).
[0030] Said supporting elements (4) are placed at the end of the
securing module (3), and substantially, said second securing
elements (6) are placed facing the same.
[0031] The second securing elements (6) are flexible, in other
words, they carry out an oscillating motion (indicated with arrows
in FIG. 2) when the ring (2) is placed in its position of use. To
secure the ring (2), each second securing element (6) comprises a
retaining projection (10) directed toward the position of said ring
(2). As can be seen in FIG. 2, the ring (2) is secured or retained
between both projections (9) of the support elements (4) and the
projections (10) of the second securing elements (6).
[0032] Meanwhile, the first securing elements (5) are also
flexible, oscillating when the ring (2) is placed into or removed
from its position of use, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2.
These first securing elements (5) are preferably connected to each
other by a connection element (7), which comprises a positioner (8)
retaining the ring (2) between said positioner (8) and said first
securing elements (5). Furthermore, said connection element (7)
also serves as a support for the ring (2).
[0033] In other words, in the hubcap of the present invention, the
securing of the ring (2) is carried out at four points in each
securing module (3), achieving a better grip, without representing
a greater difficulty in the placing or removal of the ring (2)
because of the resilient nature of the first and second securing
elements (5) (6).
[0034] Furthermore, said first securing elements (5) are connected
to said support elements (4) by means of a number of connecting
arms (11), which can be flexed.
[0035] Placing the ring (2) in its position of use is very simple
and can be seen in FIGS. 3 to 5, because it is only necessary to
couple it to pressure in all of the securing modules (3) of the
disk (1) by carrying out an axial motion. For this purpose, the
ring (2) is held between the first securing element (5) and the
positioner (8), creating a lodging for said ring (2) before placing
it in its position of use.
[0036] Upon applying said axial pressure, the first securing
elements (5) will oscillate to enable placing the ring (2) in its
position of use on the support elements (4) and the connection
element (7), the ring (2) being thus retained by said first
securing elements (5).
[0037] In the event that said second securing elements (6) are
included, these will also oscillate and retain the ring (2).
[0038] FIGS. 6 to 10 show a second embodiment of the hubcap of the
present invention. It should be noted that for the sake of
simplicity, the same numerical references are used to indicate the
equivalent elements that carry out the same function.
[0039] It should also be noted that only the differences regarding
said first embodiment are described below, such that the other
features are the same in the first and the second embodiment.
[0040] The main difference between the second embodiment with
respect to the first embodiment is that the second retaining
elements have been removed, such that the retaining of the ring (2)
to prevent removal can only be carried out by means of the first
securing elements (5).
[0041] Another difference is the connection between the first
securing elements (5), which are also connected at the top by means
of a second connection element (12), as can be seen in FIGS. 6 and
7.
[0042] The process for placing and removing the ring (2) in this
second embodiment is identical to the process described above in
relation to the first embodiment.
[0043] Despite the fact that reference has been made to a specific
embodiment of the invention, it is evident for the person skilled
in the art that numerous variations and changes may be made to the
hubcap for vehicle wheels described, and that all the
aforementioned details may be substituted by other technically
equivalent ones, without detracting from the scope of protection
defined by the attached claims.
* * * * *